Stamp-affixing device.



' H. A. MOUNT. STAMP AFFIXlNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION mm MAY 29. 1912.

Pafented 001. 3,1916.

HOWARD A. MOUNT, or WASHINGTON, nrsrnrc'r or COLUMBIA, ssmnon o GRACE L.SPERRY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

STAMP-AFFIXING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Application filed May 29, 1912. Serial N 0. 700,486.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD A. MOUNT, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vashingto-n, District of Columbia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Stamp-Afiixing Devices, of the followingis a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an electric stampaffixing machine in which the feed means for the stamps is driven by anelectric motor, and the affixing plunger actuated by an electromagnet.

This machine is confined in its use to a tape of stamps in which eachstamp is separated from its neighbor by an electro-conductive substanceor a perforation or series of perforations, and the gist of my presentinventionbroadlystated resides in so arranging the el'ectro-magnetcircuit that the circuit remains open until the conductive substance orthe above mentioned perfora-i tions during the feed of saidtape, arriveat a certain point whereupon said circuit is,

closed and the magnet energized thereby ac- I tuating the affixingplunger, further movement'of the tape again breaking sald c1rcu1t..-

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application I haveshown the'gfi common form of av coiled tape of stamps,g; each stampbeing separated by a tranversetfseries of perforations, although it isperductive. 7

Referring now to the drawings; Figure is a side elevation of my entireinvention Fig. 2 is a detached horizontal section ex tending frombetween the feed rolls to th :I left of the device as shown inFig. 1with a letter in stamp afiiXing position; Fig. 3

ventional tension device engaging the coil;

which fectly obvious that my machine will act just: as well upon a tapeof stamps in which any electro-conductive substance takes the place ofthe perforations, the body proper of the f; stamps in both cases beingnon-electroconother case the resiliency of the sheet metal Fig. 4; is amodified form of contact brushp tape is directly over cutter E, which isarranged at the end of a trough shaped guide plate extending from nearthe feed rolls :to said knife and continued back of the feed rolls toguide roll B. Arranged between rolls C, C and B is contact brush F whichmay consist ofa resilient sheet metal member slotted at its free end toform fingers which are inclined in the diretcion of the feed and sospaced as to engage the perforations between individual stamps duringthe feed of said tape. This brush is transversely slotted and screwed toa wooden support which in turn is longitudinally, slotted and secured-toacross piece F of the supporting, frame. By this arrangement the brushma be adjusted longitudinally or transverse y. Opposite the finger tipsof said brush and normally separated therefrom by the stamps proper is ametal plate H arranged in the bottom of the guide trough, which lattermust be of non-conductive material preferably wood.

If desired the brush shown in Fig. 4 may be substituted for the sheetmetal affair above described. In this modified brush the metalliccontact pins K are shown as loosely and slidably mounted insubstantially vertical guide openings in metallic block K.

These pins should be rounded at their lower ends so as not to tear thestamps when leaving the perforations. The mounting and operation ofthese pins are the same as described in connection with the sheet metalbrush except that the pins fall bygravity into the tape perforations,whereas in the causes the fingers to project into said perforationsandthereby close the magnet circuitof the plunger actuating magnet. In bothformsof brush the contact members leave the perforations in the tapewithout l tearing the stamps. an end view of the stamp. coil showing aconif} p i ably though not necessarily provided with intermeshing gears.

The contacting feed rolls C, C are prefer- Mounted on the shaft for thestamps; Fig. 5 is a modified form of"? of one of these'feed rolls or ifdesired upon make and break for the magnet circuit; Figt an independentshaft with driving connec-- 6 is a magnetic brake for the motor shaft, v

plan of the preferred formThe brake F shown in Fig. 6 consists of apiece of softiron pivoted at one end to a of contact brus The tape ofstamps is taken from coil A] p under guide roll B'between feed rolls 0,C"? with a. semi-c rcular openlng to partially and carried forward untilthe end of tip tions with the roll shaft is electric motor D.

stationary part of the frame and provided motor shaft T. The brake isnormally held free of the shaft by a contractile spring and is onlyapplied to said shaft when an electro-magnet Y placed near the free endof said brake is energized.

The. aflixing plunger L is suitably supported and guided in the mainframe of the machine so as to reciprocate in a vertical. plane but heldfrom rotation, and has at its lower end a rectangular or square head Lof soft iron. A suitable spring T interposed between a collar on the topof the plunger and the main frame normally holds the plunger above theline of feed of the stamps soias not to interfere with the insertion orremoval of a letter or the feed of the stamps.

At Q I have shown an electro-magnet for actuating the plunger and thismagnet may be arranged at any convenient place so as to act upon a softiron member placed at any desired point on the plunger. As shown themagnet forms the bottom of the slot for inserting the letter and thesoft iron mem her is the head L on the bottom of the plunger.

At M in the magnet circuit Y is shown an electromagnet which whenenergized attracts a suitable make and break member in the motor circuitX against the action of a spring which tends normally to keep the motorcircuit closed at this point; thus when magnet M is energized the motorcircuit is broken.

At M in the magnet circuit and at M in the motor circuit are shownconventional make and break devices, both of said devices being normallyheld in the open position by springs.

At M (Fig. 5) I have shown an alternative form of circuit maker andbreaker for the magnet circuit but in this case the maker and breakerconsists of a pivoted member which swings in a horizontal plane and ismoved to the open position by an inclined member P suitably arranged'onthe plunger near the bottom. In this last named construction the magnetcircuit is automatically opened when the plunger has practically reachedthe limit of its downward movement by said member P crowding lever Ninto the envelop and producing a slight dent in sai envelop sufficientto permit the necessary movement of levers h 3 and N incidental tobreaking the magnet circuit by projection P, the magnet circuit beingagain closed when a letter has been pushed against one end of lever Narranged near the end of the letter receiving slot. The other end oflever N is thus moved into contact with member M and moves the same toclosed position.

The operation of my machine is briefly stated as follows; A letter ispushed into the receiving slot one corner thereof being rubbed against amoistening sponge placed above said slot until the end of the letter hasmoved lever N against the action of spring R sulficiently to close firstthe motor circuit and immediately thereafter the magnet circuit at M andM respectively. The motor operates the feed rolls until the brushfingers pass through the first series of perforations, whereupon saidfingers by contact with metal plate H, which is in the magnet circuit,close the magnet circuit and thereby energize magnet M, which in turnattracts the make and break device in the motor circuit at this pointand opens the motor circuit. Simultaneously with the closing of the mainmagnet circuit and opening of the motor circuit as above described themagnetic brake shown in Fig. 6 is drawn to braking position by itselectromagnet which is energized by the main magnet circuit. The mainmagnet 0 being energized attracts the soft iron member L on the plungerL thereby causing the plunger to descend and cut off the end stampprojecting ove knife E and the letter, and presses the stamp upon themoistened corner of the letter. After the aifixing operation it isnecessary that the main magnet circuit should be instantly broken sothat the plunger may be drawn by its spring free of the letter and inposition to receive a new letter. lVith the make and break device shownat M in Fig. 5, this break in the main magnet circuit occursautomatically, but with the make and break shown at M it is necessary towithdraw the letter against the action of the plunger sufiiciently toallow spring R to pull lever N away from contact with the make and breakde vice M whereupon a contractile spring connected to the device M pullssaid device to open position, thereby opening the main magnet circuitand allowing the spring to return the plunger L to normal position. Theletter with the stamp applied thereto is now withdrawn from the deviceand the machine is now ready for a second letter.

The cycle ofoperations above described may be automatically repeated ifdesired by holding, either manually or by any suitable latch, the leverN in such position that the magnet and motor circuits are closed at thispoint.

The speed of operation is controlled by properly adjusting rheostats S,S in the motor and magnet circuits.

It is to be noted that the make and break devices M and M are soarranged with respect to the lever N that when the latter is actuated bythe insertion of a letter the make and break device M is closed slightlyin advance of the make and break device M By this arrangement the motorD is started and advances or feeds the tape of stamps forwardsufficiently to withdraw the brush fingers from the stamp perforation;consequently the magnet circuit is broken at this point (since the stampproper which is a non-conductor is interposed between the brush fingersand the contact plate H), therefore when lever N has moved the make andbreak device M to closed position the mag net remains inactive and theplunger L remains in its raised or normal position'and is only actuatedwhen the next series of stamp perforations is engaged by the brushfingers. It will thus be seen that during the feed of the stamps magnet0 remains inactive and hence plunger L does not interfere with the feedof the stamps, but is only actuated after a stamp has been projectedover knife E' and the corner of the letter.

Vhat I claim is;

1. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination of means for supportinga tape of perforated stamps, feed means for said tape, a motor circuit,an electric motor in said circuit to actuate said feed means, a secondelectric circuit a metallic brush in the second circuit provided withprojecting members engaging at all times the tape and adapted to projectthrough the stamp perforations when the perforations come opposite tosaid members and thereby close the second circuit, an electromagnet inthe second circuit adapted when energized to attract a make and breakdevice in the motor circuit and thereby break the motor circuit,

a movable stamp affixing member, and means in the second circuitenergized by its current to attract said affixing member there bydetaching and affixing the end stamp.

2. In a stamp affixing machinethe combination of means for supporting atape of perforated stamps, feed means for said tape, a motor circuit, anelectric motor in said circuit to actuate said feed means, a secondelectric circuit, a metallic brush in the 'second circuit provided withprojecting mem bers engaging at all times the tape and adapted toproject through the stamp .perforations when. the perforations comeopposite to said members and thereby close the second circuit, anelectromagnet in the second circuit adapted when energized to attract amake and break device in the motor circuit and thereby break the motorcircuit, a movable stamp affixing member and an electromagnet in thesecond circuit energized by its current to attract said affixing memberthereby detaching and affixing the end stamp.

3. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of means for supporting atape of perforated stamps, feed means for said tape, a motor circuit, anelectric motor in said circuit to actuate said feed means, a secondelectric circuit, a metallic brush in the second circuit provided withprojecting members engaging at all times the tape and adapted to projectthrough the stamp perforations when the perforations come opposite tosaid members and thereby close the second circuit, anelectromagnet inthe second circuit adapted when energized to attract a make and breakdevice in the motor circuit and'thereby break the motor circuit, amovable stamp affixing member, and an electromagnet in the secondcircuit energized by its current to attract said affixing member therebydetaching and affixing the end stamp and means for closing the motorcircuit and the second circuit.

1. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of means for supporting atape of perforated stamps, feed means for said tape, a motor circuit, anelectric motor in said circuit to actuate said feed means, a secondelectric circuit, a metallic brush in the second circuit provided withprojecting members engaging at all times the tape and adapted to projectthrough the stamp perforations when the perforations come opposite tosaid members and thereby close the second'circuit, an electromagnet inthe sec-- ond circuit adapted when energized to attract a make and breakdevice in the motor circuit and thereby break the motor circuit, amovable stamp afiixing member, an electromagnet in the second circuitenergized by its current to attract said affixing member therebydetaching and affixing the end stamp and means'actuated by the insertionof the letter to close the motor circuit and the second circui. V

I 5. In a stamp affixing machine the com bination of means forsupporting a tape ofperforated stamps, feed means for said tape, a motorcircuit, an electric motor in said circuit to actuate said feed means, asecond electric circuit, a metallic brush in the second circuit providedwith projecting members engaging at all times the tape and adapted toproject through the stamp perforations when the perforations comeopposite to said members and therebyv close the second circuit, anelectromagnet in the second circuit adapted when energized to attract amake and break device in the motor circuit and thereby break the motorcircuit, a movable stamp affixing member, an electro magnet in thesecond circuit energized by its current to attract said affixing memberthereby detaching and affixing the end stamp and means actuated by saidaffixing member for opening the second circuit.

6. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of means for supporting atape of perforated stamps, feed means for said tape,

a motor circuit, an electric motor in said circuit to actuate saidfeedtmeans, a second electric circuit, a metallic brush in the sec ondcircuit provided with projecting members engaging at all times the tapeand adapted to project through the stamp per- &

forations when the perforations come opposite to said members andthereby close the second circuit, an electromagnet in the second circuitadapted when energized to at tract a make and break device in the motorcircuit and thereby break the motor circuit, a movable stamp affixingmember, an electromagnet in the second circuit energized by its currentto attract said affixing member thereby detaching and affixing the endstamp, means actuated by said affixing memher for opening the secondcircuit and means actuated by the insertion of a letter to close themotor circuit and the second circuit.

7. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of means for supporting atape of perforated stamps, feed means for said tape, a motor circuit, anelectric motor in said circuit to actuate said feed means, a secondelectric circuit, a metallic brush in the second circuit provided withprojecting members engaging at all times the tape and adapted to projectthrough the stamp perforations when the perforations come opposite tosaid members and thereby close the second circuit, an electromagnet inthe second circuit adapted when energized to attract a make and breakdevice in the motor circuit and thereby break the motor circuit, amovable stamp affixing member, an electromagnet in the second circuitenergized by its current to attract said affixing member therebydetaching and affixing the end stamp, means actuated by said affixingmem her for opening the second circuit, and means for closing first themotor and then the second circuit.

8. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of means for supporting atape of erforated stamps, feed means for said tape, a motor circuit, anelectric motor in said circuit to actuate said feed means, a secondelectric circuit, a metallic brush in the second circuit provided withprojecting members engaging at all times the tape and adapted to projectthrough the stamp perforations when the perforations come opposite tosaid members and thereby close the second circuit, an electromagnet inthe second circuit adapted when energized to attract a make and breakdevice in the motor circuit and thereby break the motor circuit, amovable stamp affixing member, an electromagnet in the second circuitenergized by its current to attract said affixing member therebydetaching and affixing the end stamp, moans actuated by said affixingmember for opening the second circuit, and means for cl* ""'ng first themotor and then the second circuit actuated by the insertion of a letter.

9. In a stamp affixing device in combination means for feeding a tape ofstamps, a stamp affixing member, having a soft iron portion, anelectromagnet for actuating said mem er, and means controlled by thetape of stamps for closing the circuit of said electromagnet after eachstamp has been advanced to the stamp affixing member.

10. In a stamp affixing device in combination means for feeding aperforated tape of stamps, a stamp affixing member having a soft ironportion, an electromagnet for actuating said member, an electric circuitfor said magnet and means in said circuit adapted to engage the tape ofstamps and thereby open said circuit and to project through saidperforations during the feed of the tape and thereby close said circuit.

11. In a stamp affixing device the combination of a stamp affixingmember, feed means for the stamps, an electric motor for actuating saidfeed means and means for starting said motor by the insertion of aletter, said letter being held by the hand of the operator during theoperation of said device.

12. In a stamp affixing device the combination of feed rollers for thetape of stamps, an electric motor for actuating said rollers means forclosing the circuit of .said motor by the insertion of a letter saidcircuit being adapted to be broken by the removal of a letter, saidletter being held by the hand of the operator during the operation ofsaid device.

18. In a stamp affixing device in combination a stamp affixing memberfeed means for a tape of stamps, an electric motor for actuating saidfeed means, and means for start ing said motor controlled by a letter,said letter being held by the hand of the operator during the operationof said device.

14. In a stamp affixing device the combination of a stamp affixingmember feed rollers for a tape of stamps, an electric motor foractuating said rollers and means for opening and closing the circuit ofsaid motor controlled by a letter, said letter being held by the hand ofthe operator during the operation of said device.

15. In a stamp aflixing device, the combination of a stamp affixingmember, a station ary supporting member for the letter adjacent thereto,feed means for the stamps, an electric motor and means actuated by themanual insertion of a letter to transmit motion to said feed means fromsaid motor.

16. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of a stamp affixingmember, feed means for a tape of stamps, a motor for actuating said feedmeans and means engaging the tape of stamps for controlling theoperation of said motor.

17. In a stamp affixing device in combination means for feeding a tapeof stamps, a stamp affixing member, a soft iron member associatedtherewith, an electromagnet adapted when energized to attract said softiron member and thereby actuate the stamp affixing member; an electriccircuit for said magnet and means in said circuit adapted to engage thetape'of stamps and successively energize and deenergize said magnet torfeeding a tape of stamps thereto, an

after the passage of each stamp thereby. 18. In a stamp affixingmachine, the combination of a stamp affixing member, a stationarysupporting member for the letter adjacent thereto, feed means for thestamps, an electric motor for actuating said feed means and meansactuated by the manual insertion of a letter to transmit motion fromsaid motor to said feed means, and means to stop the transmission ofsaid mo-' tion actuated by the manual Withdrawal of the letter. 7

19. In a stamp afiix'ing machine thecombination of a stamp affixingmember, means for feeding a tape of stamps thereto, a motor foractuating said feed means and means engaging said tape for stopping saidmotor.

20. In a stamp aflixing machine the combination of a stamp afiixingmember, feed means for a tape of stamps,-=an electric motor foractuating said feed means and means engaging the tape of stamps forcontrolling the circuit of saidmotor.

21. In a stamp afiixingmachine the combination of a stamp affixingmember, feed means for a tape of stamps, an electric motor for actuatingsaid feed means and means engaging the tape of stamps for breaking thecircuit of said motor.

22. In a stamp aflixing machine the combination of a stamp atfixingmember, means for feeding a tape of stamps thereto, a motor foractuating saidfeed means, an electric circuit, a make and break devicein said circuit adapted to be actuated by the tape of stamps to open andclose saidcircuit at the proper times and means in said circuitto-control the operation of said motor.

23. In a stamp afiixing machine the combination of a stamp affixingmember, means for feeding a tape of stamps thereto a motor for actuatingsaid feed means, an electric circuit, a make and break device in saidcircuit adapted to engage said tape of stamps and to close said circuitwhen a line of perforations is presented thereto, and means in saidcircuit adapted when energized to stop said motor.

9A. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of a stamp afiixingmember, means for feeding a tape of stamps thereto, an

electric motor for actuating said feed means, an electric circuit forsaid motor, a normally closed make and break device in said circuit, asecond electric circuit, an electromagnet in said second circuit, andadapted when energized to actuate said make and break device in thefirst named circuit to open the circuit at this point and thereby stopthe motor, and a make and break device in said second circuit actuatedby the tape of stamps to energize and dee'nergize said electro-magnet.

25. In'a stamp aflixing machine the combination of a stamp aflixingmember, means electric motor for actuating said feed means, an electriccircuit for said motor, a normally closed make and break device in saidcircuit, a second electric circuit, an electromagnet in said secondcircuit, and adapted when energized to actuate said make and breakdevice in the first named circuit to open the circuit at this point andthereby stop the motor, and a make and break device in said'secondcircuit adapted to engage the tape of stamps and When a line ofperforations is presented thereto, to close the said second circuitthereby-energizing said magnet and consequently opening the motorcircuit to stop said motor.

2-6. In a stamp 'affixing machine'the com bination of a stationarysupport for the letter, an affixing member located above said support,means for operating said member located adjacent said support, feedmeans for the tape of stamps, acontrolling member for said first namedmeans located adjacent said support, and a controlling member for saidfeed means also located adjacent said support, both of said controllingmembers being actuated by the insertion of a letter..

27. In a'stamp affixing machine the combination of a stationary supportfor the let ter, a stamp afiiXing member located above said support, anelectro-magnet located below said support, feed means for the tape ofstamps, and a make and break device in said magnet circuitlocatedadjacent said support and actuated by a letter to control the current insaid magnet circuit.

28. In a stamp aflixing machinethe com-- binationof a stationary supportfor the letter, astamp afiixing member above said support, means foroperating said member 10-:

cated adjacent said support and adapted to be brought into action by theinsertion of a letter, feed means for the tape of stamps, an electricmotor for actuating the same and a make and'break device for the motorcircuit located adjacent said support and brought into action to closesaid circuit by the insertion of a letter.

29. In a stamp allixing machine the combination of a stationary supportfor the letter, a stamp'afliXing member'located above said support, anelectro-magnet located beloW said support, feed means for the tape ofstamps, and a make and break device in said magnet. circuit locatedadjacent said support and actuated by a letter to close the current insaid magnet circuit.

30. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of a stamp affixingmember, a stationary support for the letter, a moistening devicearranged above said support and adapted to moisten the stamp receivingportion of said letter 'as the letter is inserted stamps, a motor foractuating said feec means, means for actuating said ailixing member anda member adapted to be moved by the letter to control said motor andsaid stamp aflixing member.

31 In a stamp affixing machine the com bination of a stamp affixingmember, a electro-magnet for actuating said member means for feeding atape of stamps to sai member and means in the circuit of magnet adaptedto be energized thereby and to control the feeding means for the tape ofstamps so that When the affixing member is actuated the feed means isinactive.

32. In a stamp aflixing machine the combination of a stamp affixingmember, an electro-magnet for actuating said member, means for feeding atape of stamps to said member and means in the circuit of said magnetadaptel to be energized thereby and to stop the feeding means for thetape of stamps so that When the affixing member is actuated the feedmeans is inactive.

33. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of a stamp affixingmember, an electro-magnet for actuating said member, means for feeding atape of stamps to said member and an electro-magnet in the circuit ofsaid first named electro-magnet adapted to be energized thereby and tocontrol the feeding means for the tape of stamps so that When theaffixing member is actuated the feed means is inactive.

34. In a stamp affixing machine the combination of a stamp aflixingmember, an electro-magnet for actuating said member, means for feeding atape of stamps to said member and an electro-magnet in the circuit ofsaid magnet adapted to be energized thereby and to stop the feedingmeans for the tape of stamps so that When the aflixing member isactuated the feed means is inactive. 7

35. In a stamp afiiXing machine the combination of a stamp afliXingmember, an electro-magnet for actuating said member, a circuit for saidelectro-magnet, a second electro-magnet in said circuit, feed means fora tape of stamps, an electric motor for actuating said feed means, acircuit for said motor,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for said";

a normally closed make-and break device in said motor circuit adapted tobe opened by said second named electro-magnet whereby the motor isstopped simultaneously with the energization of the magnet that operatesthe afiixing member.

36. In a stamp affixing machine the comination of a stamp aflixingmember, and .electro-magnet for actuating said member,

A feed means for the tape of stamps, a motor .for actuating said feedmeans, a circuit for said electro-magnet, a brake for the motor andmeans in said magnet circuit for actuating said brake.

87. In a stamp afiixing machine the combination of a stamp ailixingmember, an electro-magnet for actuating said member, a circnit for saidelectro-magnet, feed means for the tape of stamps, a motor for actuatingsaid feed means, a brake for said motor, means in said circuit adaptedto stop said motor at the proper time and means in said circuit adaptedsimultaneously to apply said brake.

38. In a stamp aflixing machine the combination of a stamp aflixingmember, an eiectro-magnet for actuating said member, a circuit for saidelectro-magnet, feed means for the tape of stamps, a motor for actuatingsaid feed means, a brake for said motor, an electro-magnet in saidcircuit adapted to stop said motor at the proper time and anelectro-magnet in said circuit adapted simultaneously to apply saidbrake.

In a stamp afiiXing machine the combination of a stamp afliXing member,feed means for a tape of stamps, a motor for actuating said feed means,a brake for said motor, means for actuating said aiiixing member, meansassociated With said last named means to apply said brake to said motorafter the feed of each stamp, and means for simultaneously stopping theoperation of said motor. I

In testimony whereof I a'HiX my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

HOWARD A. MOUNT.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. SPERRY, E. E. RAMEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

